[Elecraft] Elecraft Digest, Vol 118, Issue 9

[Dauer, Edward]

One of the neat aspects of the hobby we share is the space it affords everyone to do whatever it is that interests them.  QRP is no exception.  For me, chasing DX with a KX3 running 5 watts into a stealth antenna concealed at a temporary work site means I have to pay more attention to operating skill than I ever had to with my 500 watts and antenna farm back home; I need to learn more about the efficiency of feed lines than I had to before, to transfer as much as possible of the 5 watts coming from the rig into the antenna; and more about antenna theory than I have known in order to explore how to do with maximum efficiency that which (according to the property owners) I am not supposed to be doing at all.  Back home these were all, rightly or wrongly, unnecessary luxuries.  Using the KX3 in my temporary QTH they are engaging challenges.  One thing I know for sure - the KX3 removes receiver performance from the equation.  It is simply as good as the best I've come across in 56 years of hamming.

Ted, KN1CBR



Message: 9
Date: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 08:44:06 -0500
From: Dave Barr <recordupe at verizon.net>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] # 5607 first contact QRP!
Message-ID: <52F391A6.2090205 at verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

QRP works!  Bottom line is that if you want a lot of DX contacts, you need at least a dipole.  With a K2 built in '99, a dipole and a tribander (bad qrp word) K2YG has worked 261 countries at 5 watts on rtty and 108 with 1 watt.  Many of these are on 40, 17 and 12 meters with only the dipole, such as VQ9 on 40 with 5w and VU on 12 with one watt.  CW is even easier, but SSB is tougher.  So, throw up a wire with open feed if possible, even indoors (with coax feed) if you can attach 
it to the house ridge pole, and avoid verticals and small antennas.   
Then, add patience and persistence.

73, Dave, K2YG


On 2/6/2014 12:02 AM, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 25
> Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 18:11:58 -0800
> From: EricJ<eric_csuf at hotmail.com>
> To:elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] # 5607 first contact QRP!
> Message-ID:<BLU0-SMTP1005D64F825FA84983C84188E940 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"; format=flowed
>
> And that's an important point, Don. A poor antenna hooked to a 5 watt 
> rig is no different than a poor antenna hooked to a 100 watt rig...in 
> receive. Power sometimes gives you an advantage on transmit under 
> marginal conditions, but it does nothing on receive as you mention. 
> Then you run into the classic "can't work 'em if you can't hear them" 
> barrier no matter how much power you run.
>
> I have three boatanchors (2NT, DX40 and Ranger) and they run around
> 50-65 watts INPUT. That's what 90% of hams ran in the 50s and 60s and 
> that's only an S unit or so better than my K1 or K2/10.
>
> Anyway, I said what I wanted to say which is most of the argument 
> applies to any power level, not just QRP. Part 97 says run no more 
> power than necessary. QRP meets that criteria for the majority of operating.
>
> Eric
> KE6US
>
> On 2/5/2014 4:23 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> >Yes, there are many QRPer's who also frown on beams and other 
>> >efficient antennas, but I disagree with that philosophy.  Why 'shoot 
>> >yourself in the foot' with a compromise antenna unless your physical 
>> >conditions dictate that compromise as a necessity (HOA restrictions, 
>> >portable operation, etc.)
>> >
>> >If you operate with 5 watts and an antenna with 3 dB gain, you will 
>> >have the equivalent of a 10 watt signal, and if you can achieve an 
>> >antenna with 10 dB gain, you have the equivalent of a 50 watt signal 
>> >into a dipole. (yes, I know those are extremes).
>> >
>> >Much of the QRP work with compromise antennas is a problem on the 
>> >receive side.  If you cannot hear them, you cannot work them.  So 
>> >why handicap yourself with inefficient antennas.  Check QRPARCI - 
>> >you will find no credits or deductions in their contests for antenna 
>> >inefficiency.  Use the best antenna that you have for the task.
>> >
>> >QRP operation will increase your operating skills - listen, listen 
>> >and listen, figure out the other stations habits, operate split if 
>> >necessary, and call when you think your signal will be heard.
>> >
>> >73,
>> >Don W3FPR
>> >
>> >On 2/5/2014 6:52 PM, Stephen Roberts wrote:
>>> >>You're right of course. It takes some time to get comfortable with 
>>> >>QRP and its limitations, and you're right, that it can be a source 
>>> >>of frustration for many new hams.  Your are also absolutely right 
>>> >>that when you ad a crappy antenna to the mix, it can be very 
>>> >>frustrating indeed. But that's the fun of learning and discovering 
>>> >>all that is ham radio.
>>> >>
>>> >>I started with an OHR 100a 40m rig and a homebrew magloop antenna 
>>> >>set up on a tripod in my kitchen. I was happy as a clam and simply 
>>> >>didn't know what I was missing and found plenty of QSO's to keep 
>>> >>me occupied while I figured out what it was all about. I had other 
>>> >>ham friends telling me that I was setting myself up for 
>>> >>disappointment if I didn't get at least a 100W radio, but I stuck 
>>> >>it out and never felt that I was missing much. I still feel that 
>>> >>way, and I'm still having fun.